Page 77 of His Brown-Eyed Girl

Michael smiled. “Yeah, we’re good.”

And at that very moment, Lucas felt things shift between him and Michael. It was subtle but present all the same. Maybe his words hadn’t merely brought Michael some relief but had strengthened the fragile bonds they’d started forming over the past two weeks. Maybe his nephew had started him toward forgiveness, something he’d been needing to move toward for too long.

“Ready to go?” Addy asked, reaching out for Charlotte and scooping her into her arms. Lucas paused a moment and watched how gently Addy moved the girl, how right she looked with the little girl cradled against her body.

He’d taken pictures throughout day and itched for the camera in the truck to preserve the sheer beauty of Addy and the child.

“Yep, I’m ready to play Battlefield,” Chris said, banging the chair against the table, waking Charlotte who started whimpering. Addy nuzzled her and smiled at Lucas, and in her face he saw exactly what he looked for… understanding.

No need to rehash all that had occurred between him and Courtney because somehow or another, Addy got him.

And it had felt that way since he’d first met her.

Meant to be.

And just as Michael had looked lighter, Lucas felt lighter. Something about sharing that burden had given more knockabout room inside himself. His heart beat strong against his ribs and his mind seemed to almost sigh with relief. Didn’t make sense but he felt it just the same.

And as they walked to his truck, Charlotte asleep on Addy’s shoulder, the two boys for once not arguing, Lucas slid his hand into Addy’s and felt contentment make a home inside his soul.

“You’re home,” Flora said when Addy unlocked the back door and entered the kitchen.

“I am, but only for a minute. Thought I’d come see if you wanted to watch a movie with us. Sanitized version ofForrest Gump.” Addy opened the pantry and rifled through the snack basket for a package of microwave popcorn.

“No, I’m working on piecing that pattern for the dress I’m making for the Natchez Pilgrimage. These old fingers ain’t what they used to be and neither are these eyes.” Flora wiggled her fingers and eyed Addy as she emerged from the depths of the pantry. “You sure look pretty, my darling. So glad to see you wearing some color.”

“Thanks. You sure you don’t want to come? The kids are behaving and Lucas is baking brownies. Who knew the man could bake all along? We could have saved ourselves some work.”

“You need a proper date with that man. Not one with kids around,” Flora said, putting her hands on her hips. Addy’s aunt wore a pair of pink Juicy Couture sweatpants and a tight long-sleeved t-shirt that said, “Cutie pie.” She looked like a teenager except with bifocals, age spots, and gray hair.

“It’s going to be hard to do since he’s all they have,” Addy said.

“Y’all have me,” her aunt said, cocking her head. “Unless you don’t trust me anymore?”

Addy would never admit her doubts about Flora’s progressing disease to her aunt, but she wasn’t sure Flora could handle three unruly, precocious kids for an evening. “Of course I trust you, Auntie. I just don’t think it’s fair to ask-”

“Why the heck not? Shit, I can handle a few kids,” Aunt Flora cracked, waving a hand.

“Flora.”

Her aunt smiled. “I’m getting too old to mince words.”

“You look and sound like a rap video,” Addy joked, ransacking the candy jar for Reese’s cups.

“How about tomorrow afternoon, I take the kids to the movies? Or maybe down to Audubon to the zoo?”

“Alone?”

“I’ll call Patti, and she can bring her grandson Tristan. She has season passes, and it’s not hard to handle kids at the zoo… they can’t touch any animals or break anything.”

“I’ll ask Lucas,” Addy said, hoping she used good sense and hadn’t let her desire to have Lucas alone skew her judgment.

Heck, her judgment had been skewed when she’d decided to not worry about forever, but to embrace the now. So un-Addy-like. Or at least unlike the Addy she’d become. But she wanted this weekend more than she wanted to be sensible.

Walking back into the darkening shadows, Addy’s lizard brain kicked in.

Nothing but shadows. No movement but the wind. No sounds but the swish of nearby traffic and the leaves brushing against their neighbors. The dark wasn’t scary… it was the evil in the bright light of day that scared the bejeezus out of Addy.

She walked across the back porch of the Finlay house and Kermit brushed against her knees.

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